SAG -Chapter 188 Old Huo Next Door?

Tian Yaohui listened to Hao Yuan’s report, his expression shifting repeatedly before he finally snorted coldly.

“Huo Li is a complete idiot!”

Hao Yuan stood obediently to one side.

He never offered opinions on matters like this.

Suppressing his emotions, Tian Yaohui asked, “So Huo Zhiyuan has already regained consciousness? And Zhang Ran has met with her?”

“Yes,” Hao Yuan replied quietly.

“And this matter was most likely resolved by Zhang Ran himself.”

“There’s something else you probably don’t know—do you know who Huo Li hired to handle the job?”

“Who?”

“Zhao Hu. One of Boss Zhang’s former bodyguards.”

Hearing that, Tian Yaohui couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

Huo Li really had a talent for finding the worst possible person.

He had somehow managed to hire someone from Zhang Ran’s own former circle.

After a moment, Tian Yaohui asked curiously, “What happened to Zhao Hu afterward? Did Zhang Ran deal with him?”

Hao Yuan considered for a moment.

“Apparently not.”

“And Zhao Hu even seems to be working for Zhang Ran again.”

To be honest, Hao Yuan found this puzzling.

Zhang Ran was far more magnanimous than he had expected.

The thought stirred certain ideas in his mind, but he quickly suppressed them.

Tian Yaohui was equally surprised.

Then another matter occurred to him.

“How about Su Yu? Has she left yet?”

Hao Yuan sighed.

“She refuses to leave, no matter how much I persuade her.”

“But I already instructed her on what to say.”

“She’ll claim that she happened to run into Huo Li by chance and merely wanted to sell some information for a bit of money.”

He could understand her decision.

After all, few people possessed the courage to abandon their homes and start anew elsewhere.

And strictly speaking, all Su Yu had done was sell information.

Her career in major corporations was already finished.

Whether she stayed or left, the outcome wouldn’t differ much.

Besides, Huo Zhiyuan was unlikely to go to extremes over something like this.

Tian Yaohui’s eyes flickered.

He glanced at Hao Yuan but ultimately remained silent.

Not everyone possessed Zhao Hu’s courage.

Especially not after already achieving success and stability.

Back then, Zhang Ran had been one reason for Zhao Hu’s decision.

But the greater reason had been He Yong, who had been watching him like a tiger stalking its prey.

“Enough. Let’s put this matter behind us.”

Tian Yaohui took a deep breath.

“I want to see exactly what gives Zhang Ran the confidence to speak as he does.”

Originally, he had intended to use Kang Shilan’s troubles to keep Zhang Ran occupied.

He hadn’t expected things to collapse so completely.

It seemed that such petty schemes were no longer effective.

“Oh, right. What did Weiteng say?” he suddenly asked.

He wanted to create problems for Zhang Ran—anything to stop the man from focusing entirely on him.

So he had prepared several backup plans.

“They’ve already begun efforts to acquire Biaoxue Company,” Hao Yuan replied.

“If Biaoxue refuses the purchase offer, they’ll proceed with direct commercial competition.”

This matter genuinely wasn’t Tian Yaohui’s doing.

At most, he had merely acted as a catalyst.

After all, even he couldn’t casually manipulate a giant like Weiteng Group.

Tian Yaohui waved dismissively.

“I never expected them to succeed anyway.”

“Just stay cautious during this period.”

Meanwhile, matters concerning Huo Zhiyuan were proceeding rapidly after Zhang Ran’s departure.

Everyone involved was identified one by one, arrested, and sent to prison.

By this point, Huo Li and Sun Guilan had nothing left to hide.

They confessed everything and implicated everyone connected to the affair.

On the surface, aside from Huo Jiaxiong being taken away by the police, Kang Shilan appeared unchanged.

But beneath that calm exterior, tremendous changes were taking place.

The most obvious development was that everyone within the company now recognized two newly risen stars.

The first was Project Manager Zhang Siyan.

She controlled a massive project and reported directly to Huo Zhiyuan herself.

Her authority was enormous.

Rumors claimed that her background was even more extraordinary.

According to company gossip, the entire project had been brought about by Zhang Siyan alone.

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

After all, Zhang Ran was her father.

His achievements could naturally be considered part of her own influence.

Within the project, Zhang Siyan possessed complete control over both finances and personnel appointments.

Many people had voiced objections.

Huo Zhiyuan ignored every single one.

Everyone understood the message:

Huo Zhiyuan supported Zhang Siyan unconditionally.

Opposing Zhang Siyan meant opposing Huo Zhiyuan herself.

The second rising figure was also connected to Zhang Siyan.

Her best friend—Qian Li.

After Huo Li’s arrest, all the distribution channels under his control were reclaimed.

Naturally, many people coveted them.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, Huo Zhiyuan handed every one of those channels directly to Qian Li.

The entire distribution rights for both Jiangsu Province and Shanghai fell into her hands.

Overnight, Qian Li transformed from a modest local distributor into Kang Shilan’s largest regional agent.

Even now, she remained somewhat dazed.

She had never imagined reaching such heights without even realizing it.

And it truly had happened without her noticing.

She hadn’t done anything extraordinary.

She had merely focused on her work.

Then one day, she was informed that all of Shanghai and Jiangsu now belonged to her.

Countless people envied her fortune.

Everyone agreed that her success came from having an incredible best friend in Zhang Siyan.

What few of them remembered, however, was how Qian Li had stood by Zhang Siyan during her darkest times.

The other major changes occurred within the company’s shareholder structure.

Huo Li confessed to various private agreements he had made with certain shareholders.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Huo Zhiyuan began repurchasing shares and restructuring parts of the board of directors.

As for Zhang Ran, life gradually returned to its usual rhythm.

The larger matters were left to Meng Mingxuan and the others.

Every day, he drove the children to school and picked them up afterward.

He drank tea.

He chatted with friends.

Occasionally, he sought out a few elderly men to play chess with.

He truly seemed to have embraced retirement.

One morning, after dropping the children off at school and returning home, he noticed movers carrying furniture into the neighboring house.

“A new neighbor?” he wondered aloud, stopping to observe.

Two days earlier, he had already learned that the house next door had been sold.

Still, he hadn’t expected the new owners to move in so quickly.

He briefly considered introducing himself.

The previous neighbors had merely exchanged nods whenever they met.

For someone accustomed to chatting with neighbors and dropping by each other’s homes, Zhang Ran had always found that a little uncomfortable.

He thought that perhaps, by showing goodwill early, he might establish a friendlier relationship this time.

But the moment someone walked out of the house, he realized he had been overthinking things.

There was no need for introductions at all.

“Brother Zhang!”

Huo Zhiyuan waved enthusiastically, her face glowing with delight.

Walking over, Zhang Ran asked curiously, “You bought this house?”

“What happened? Couldn’t get used to living in a villa?”